The Executive MBA at Notre Dame: Your Questions Answered by People Who’ve Been There

Meet the Panelists

Jonathon Geels (EMBA ’23) is President of Troyer Group, a mid-size public infrastructure design firm with offices across the U.S. A father of three and a dedicated community leader, Jonathon is involved with local nonprofits including La Casa de Amistad and West Side South Bend.

Clinton Squadroni (EMBA ’24) is the CEO of InXpress, a global third-party logistics firm operating in 14 countries. A South Bend native and longtime Notre Dame fan, Clinton balances executive leadership with coaching his kids’ sports teams and volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club.

Kimberly Green Reeves (EMBA ’25) was a current EMBA student at the time of the panel as well as an Executive Director at Beacon Health System, where she leads the community health outreach division. Kimberly is deeply involved in the local community and serves on several nonprofit boards and state committees as well as a mother of three.

Christine Huffer (EMBA ’24) is the Vice President of Customer Experience at a distribution company, Bunzl Retail Services. Christine lives just outside Chicago with her husband and three kids. She’s a Double Domer who completed her EMBA degree while balancing a demanding corporate role and home life.

Looking back, what fears or concerns did you have before starting the program and how did the reality compare?

Christine Huffer:
I was afraid I was going to be the dumbest person in the room. That was hands-down my biggest fear. In reality? I graduated number one in our class. So if I can do it, anyone can. It is hard work, but everyone wants you to succeed. The challenge is real, but it’s absolutely doable.

Kimberly Green Reeves:
Same here. I worried about keeping up with the rigor, but more than that, I was worried about maintaining my professional career, being a mom, a wife, and still doing this program. You have to be really intentional. Set time aside for your team, your coursework, and your family. I wish I had known earlier how to integrate my family into the experience, especially since they’re a big part of your support system.

Clinton Squadron:
My fear stemmed from not having a formal business education prior to starting the program.  I studied education in my undergrad but ran and operated in the business world for 20 years. Prior to starting my EMBA journey, I recall while encountering challenges during the accounting pre-work contacting my professor asking if I should rethink my decision. Her encouragement made me realize how invested the faculty are in our success. Notre Dame does a phenomenal job assembling small, balanced cohorts by background, profession, and lifestyle, which helps so much. These people become your second family.

Jonathon Geels:
My role at work expanded just as I was accepted into the program, and my wife also started a PhD program at the same time. Our three teenagers didn’t get any less busy either. So no — my life didn’t slow down. There’s really no such thing as balance. Instead, I focused on integration. My biggest fear was not being present enough to fully experience it. That’s a high bar, but I encourage future students to give themselves some grace. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.

How did you balance the workload with your job and family life?

Kimberly Green Reeves:
You may need to carve out time during your workday, not a lot, but some or it can become overwhelming. I also recommend having early conversations with your employer. Let them know this is temporary and that it benefits them too. Managing expectations both at work and at home is key.

Christine Huffer:
It really depends on your personal situation. I had young kids, so my evenings were booked with family responsibilities. We often had team meetings at 6 a.m. or after 8:30 p.m. I also worked with my employer to carve out time during the day, maybe an hour here or there like at lunch, for schoolwork. It’s all about creating a schedule that works for your life.

Clinton Squadron:
The flexibility of your small group is crucial. Some people could only meet at lunch, others late at night. Everyone understands and supports each other, that’s part of what makes this program so special.

Jonathon Geels:
Agree – we worked across time zones, which often meant 9 p.m. meetings for me. Professors also held office hours late at night — I once had a global finance session at 10 p.m. This program demands a lot, but if you’re deliberate and communicative, it’s definitely doable.

How responsive are the professors during and after the program?

Christine Huffer:
They are very responsive, especially if you engage. Go to office hours, raise your hand. You’ll get to know each other very well.

Clinton Squadron:
Even if you’re not super vocal, it’s impossible for them not to know you. They go out of their way to accommodate. I once missed a residency because I had to fly to Hong Kong. I landed at midnight, took a final at 4 a.m., and another one at 8 a.m. They were incredibly supportive about the whole thing.

Kimberly Green Reeves:
They’re also intentional about building relationships outside of class, at dinners, social events, and informal meetups. You get to connect with them on a personal level.

Jonathon Geels:
Their support doesn’t stop after graduation. I’ve had professors come speak at my company’s leadership retreats. They’re still resources years later.

Christine Huffer:
Absolutely. I’ve hired professors to lead negotiation seminars for my team. I’ve consulted them on contracts. The value goes beyond the classroom, it’s real-world, career-changing knowledge.

How do you think your careers would’ve looked different without this MBA program? Would your trajectory have changed, or was it more about the network and knowledge you gained along the way?

Jonathon Geels:
The most successful people in our program were already driven when they started. I have no doubt they would’ve found success without it, but did the program contribute to it? Absolutely, it’s both. For me personally, I was promoted just for being accepted, again before graduating, and have had three salary adjustments since. So yes, the ROI is real.

Kimberly Green Reeves:
Prior to graduation, my company expressed interest in retaining me and inquired about what would make me want to stay. The skills and knowledge I gained through this program helped create this valuable opportunity for discussion. It wasn’t just the coursework, it was the connections, the professors, and especially my classmates. Many of us are thinking not just about leadership roles, but building something on our own. And now we have a network of driven people to do that with.

Christine Huffer:
In my company, and I think it’s similar in a lot of corporate jobs, it’s kind of an unwritten rule that you need an MBA to move into a certain level. This program showed I was serious, that I was investing in myself, that i was dedicated. It alleviated the question for them so I got promoted going in and again while in the program. It also helped me negotiate better compensation and think strategically about funding, taxes, and value. And I now have a network of peers I can talk openly with about salaries, market rates, and career moves, and that’s powerful.”

Clinton Squadron:
I became CEO before finishing the program, and that was based on my previous experience. But the MBA legitimized me in the private equity and finance spaces I now work in. It gave me a much deeper understanding of financials. I think over 30% of my cohort was promoted during the two years. The ROI is 100% there. It might not happen in the program, but it always pays off, whether through promotions, knowledge, or the Notre Dame network.

What surprised you most about the experience?

Christine Huffer:
The camaraderie. The in-class discussions, the debates — even about accounting! — were so energizing. I miss that part the most. You learn just as much from your classmates as you do from the professors.

Clinton Squadron:
Residency weekends were unforgettable. I miss those Friday nights from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to later, getting to spend that time with your cohort and professors, you just don’t get that kind of bonding anywhere else.

Jonathon Geels:
It goes by fast. Be present, soak it in, and take advantage of the access and relationships, not just during the program, but long after.

Kimberly Green Reeves:
The network. After our first semester, we went to a local winery wearing Mendoza gear. A stranger came up and asked if we were in the EMBA program. He was an alum, and within minutes, he was sharing contacts, encouraging us to connect on LinkedIn, and offering help with job opportunities. That’s the Notre Dame network in action.

Note: The responses below are paraphrased and edited for clarity from a live alumni panel. Quotes reflect the speakers’ personal experiences.